Stimulation of collagen production in an in vitro model for Peyronie's disease

This study evaluated whether human cavernosal myofibroblasts in cell culture is a viable model for the study of the role of oxygen free radicals in the production of collagen types I and III, as observed in Peyronie's disease.

Human cavernosal cells in primary culture were incubated with 3H-proline in the absence or presence of (i) glyceraldehyde; (ii) alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E); (iii) a combination of the two; or (iv) gamma interferon alone or in combination with glyceraldehyde. Collagen production was monitored after precipitation by specific monoclonal antibody and quantitated using a scintillation counter.

Collagen type III was stimulated to higher than baseline values after doses of 10 and 100 microM glyceraldehyde was added and showed suppression of stimulation with incorporation of alpha-tocopherol. There was a 40% increase in collagen type III production as compared to baseline values in glyceraldehyde-treated cells. Collagen type I showed no consistent stimulation or suppression. In glyceraldehyde-stimulated transformed caveronsal cells, alpha-tocopherol treatment caused a 10-60% decrease in collagen type I and III production. With the addition of 100,000 IU/ml gamma interferon, a significant reduction of both collagen types I and III was observed.

The generation of oxygen radicals is associated with the stimulation of collagen production in cavernosal cells. Transformed fibroblasts from cavernosal cells in culture can be utilized to explore possible etiologies of Peyronie's disease and to further evaluate potential medical therapies for this pathological condition.